Contact: Timothy Schabo
920.915.0479
MILWAUKEE, WI – Rep. David Crowley (D-Milwaukee) issued the following statement regarding police and community relations in the wake of the Sterling Brown incident:
“As more disturbing details continue to surface regarding the Sterling Brown incident, the relationship between our community and local law enforcement continues to suffer. Just yesterday, we learned that police report drafts of the incident did not accurately reflect what really happened. Sadly, without national attention, incidents like this often would result in a battle between officers and the accused for credibility, with officers given the benefit of the doubt in most cases.
“With these most recent revelations, it is more imperative than ever that we make improving police-community relations a top priority in the state of Wisconsin. Earlier this year, I introduced a bill that would have done just that. Assembly Bill 453, ‘The Community-Police Relations Improvement Act,’ would require the allocation of grant funds to qualifying counties specifically to improve the relationship between the community and those sworn to protect and serve it.
“Improving this relationship would undoubtedly result in a reduction in crime, safer neighborhoods, and save Wisconsin taxpayers millions in reduced police misconduct lawsuits and crime prevention. Unfortunately, not one of my Republican colleagues signed on to this common sense legislation. I wonder how many more incidents like this have to occur before we can agree that this needs to be a top priority?”
